Katie Becker
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Katie Becker is an at-large member of the Minnetonka School Board in Minnesota. Becker ran unopposed and won the general election on November 3, 2015.
Biography
Katie Becker resides in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Becker graduated from Eagan High School before earning her B.A. in psychology from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire. From 1999 to 2008, she worked as a meeting and event planner with Carlson Marketing Worldwide.[1][2]
Elections
2015
The election in Minnetonka featured four of the seven seats on the board up for general election on November 3, 2015.
The seats of at-large incumbents Charlie Kanan, Lisa Sumner, Lisa Wagner, and Karen Walkowski were up for election. Sumner and Wagner, along with newcomers Mark Ambrosen and Katie Becker, ran unopposed and won the four at-large seats. Neither Kanan nor Walkowski filed to run for re-election.
Results
| Minnetonka School District, At-Large, General Election, 2015 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Lisa Wagner Incumbent |
26.1% | 3,816 |
| Mark Ambrosen |
24.3% | 3,554 |
| Lisa Sumner Incumbent |
24.2% | 3,539 |
| Katie Becker |
24.2% | 3,534 |
| Write-in votes | 1.28% | 187 |
| Total Votes | 14,630 | |
| Source: Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, "Local Results in Hennepin County," accessed November 4, 2015 These election results are not official and will be updated when certified results are available. You can submit certified results by contacting us. |
||
Funding
Becker reported no contributions or expenditures to the Minnetonka School District administration during the election.[3]
Endorsements
Becker did not receive any official endorsements during the election.
Campaign themes
2015
Becker completed a survey conducted by the Lakeshore Weekly News:
| “ | What is your view of the state of the school district?
Excellent! Minnetonka is a school district of choice, offering a variety of education programs. This starts at the youngest level at Early Childhood Family Education preparing kids to be ready when entering Kindergarten. Students are setting academic achievement records at all levels. A Minnetonka 5th grader is performing at an 11th grade level, according to national norms. Last year, Minnetonka High School students scored a 26.9 average on the ACT. In a recent community survey, 98% rated the quality of our public school as excellent/good. The District continues to be a shining star of fiscal responsibility by maintaining a Moody’s Aaa Bond Rating, an honor that is shared by only 70 other school districts in the entire country. However, we cannot be complacent with our current success. I will continue on our path of excellence by finding innovative ways to keep up with the changing needs of our education system. What is the biggest issue facing your district right now? Our biggest challenge is maintaining our financial stability. Minnetonka Public Schools currently has two referendums on the ballot. It is imperative that both referendums pass to continue the variety of innovative academic and co-curricular programs for our children and to retain and develop our exceptional teachers and staff. Minnetonka receives 75% of its funding from the State. State funding has not kept pace with inflation during the last 20 years. During the last decade, funding increases have been less than 1.5% annually while inflation has had an average increase of 2.5%. The District has used enrollment growth to weather the recession. As we reach enrollment capacity, revenue will plateau and more local funding is needed to support programs to avoid budget cuts and staff layoffs. I will continue on this track of keeping our District fiscally sound and finding innovative approaches for alternative revenue sources. What skills and expertise will you contribute to the school board? I have been a part of the Minnetonka Preschool and ECFE PTO serving as President, Vice President and currently the Advocacy/Outreach Chair. I have lead a group of volunteers to build an Outdoor Learning Center behind the Minnetonka Preschool, raising over $45K to privately fund this outdoor classroom. I have served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Scenic Heights Elementary PTA, a member on the Minnetonka Public Schools - Parenting with a Purpose Committee and am currently serving my fourth year on the Dream Makers Committee for the Minnetonka Public School Foundation helping to fundraise money to fund groundbreaking programs and Teacher Grants. These experiences have given me the opportunity to work with the School Board, Administration, staff and community members. This will allow me to use my active listening, innovative and objective thinking and collaborative leadership skills to make a positive impact in the School District. Why are you running? Serving in the Minnetonka School District has given me the opportunity to pursue my dedication to education and represent the members of our community advocating for every child. I am proud of Minnetonka Schools and what has been accomplished to date. I want to continue the pursuit of innovative programs that inspire children to reach their highest level of academic and personal achievement, while keeping our district fiscally responsible. It is also important to me to prepare the youth of our community to be productive citizens in our global economy. As a parent, I want to ensure that our District stays strong for years to come so your children and mine can continue to experience the excellence of Minnetonka Schools. Why should you be elected? I am committed to making a difference and am an active leader in making our District successful. As a School Board member, I will bring new perspectives, innovative ideas and fresh energy. As an effective School Board member, I will listen to all stakeholders, engage in discussion, ask questions and seek clarification while practicing collaboration and respect. I will be an effective leader and work to ensure increasing success at our schools today and into the future. I will continue to develop our Administration and staff, find innovative ways to keep our District fiscally sound and ensure students have the curriculum they need to be successful at all learning levels. I am committed to you and your family and believe your child deserves an outstanding education and school experience.[4] |
” |
| —Lakeshore Weekly News survey (2015)[2] | ||
Candidate website
Becker published the following on her campaign website:
| “ | My Goals & Priorities
Preparing Students for Life
Preserving the Community
Securing our Financial Success
|
” |
| —Katie Becker campaign website (2015)[5] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'Katie Becker' 'Minnetonka School District'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Katie Becker - Minnetonka School Board, "Meet Katie," accessed October 26, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lakeshore Weekly News, "Katie Becker," September 28, 2015
- ↑ Minnetonka School District, "School Board Election Information," accessed November 1, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Katie Becker - Minnetonka School Board, "My Goals & Priorities," accessed October 26, 2015
| 2015 Minnetonka School District Elections | |
| Hennepin County, Minnesota | |
| Election date: | November 3, 2015 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Lisa Sumner • Incumbent, Lisa Wagner • Mark Ambrosen • Katie Becker |
| Important information: | Key deadlines • Additional elections on the ballot |
